WILSON BORO – What a game!

What a win!

It was a stellar performance from the football team to the band on Saturday as Lehighton hit on all notes on a gorgeous late summer day.

There were some zany things that occurred - like four touchdowns scored in exactly two minutes of play to close the first half.

But over the final 24 minutes, the Indians were stout on defense, while also continuing to add to an offensive onslaught that began in the second quarter. The end result was a 55-14 victory – their first of the season.

“Our guys worked hard this offseason and this preseason, and we were finally able to put it together,” coach Tom McCarroll said moments after the game in the basking sun as the Indians’ band blurted out the school’s alma mater.

The Indians jumped in front 6-0 after 12 minutes, then began to pull away during a wild second quarter that featured six touchdowns - four of them by Lehighton. That’s a total of 42 points in 12 minutes.

“It wasn’t always pretty football,” McCarroll said about the onslaught of scoring in the quarter. “But we took advantage of our opportunities. They had some momentum, but we took it back.”

The Tribe scored the only touchdown of the opening quarter when Ian Rarick and promising freshman quarterback Jayse Lawrence - making his first start - hooked up on a 17-yard touchdown pass. Lawrence was filling in for injured starter Brady O’Donnell.

The Warriors answered early in the second quarter thanks to Ian Feckete, who latched onto a 28-yard pass from Chris Weston that tied the game 6-6.

But any momentum that score may have given the Warriors was quickly turned around.

Lehighton came storming back to take the lead for good when Ethan Buchert - who had an outstanding game rushing for 107 yards on 16 carries - cracked the goal line for the first of his three touchdowns with 7:17 to play in the opening half.

Then it was time for the fireworks.

Ba boom! Ba boom!

In the span of just one minute, the teams combined for four touchdowns.

The Tribe began the barrage when Joey Roth caught another on-the-money pass from Lawrence, and he legged it into the end zone to complete a 43-yard pitch and catch to make it 20-6 with 2:19 to go in the second quarter.

Wilson had trouble fielding the ensuing kickoff and Logan Kent recovered for the Indians at the Warrior 34.

On the next play from scrimmage, Lawrence tossed a perfect strike to Blake Roberts to make it 27-6.

Wilson answered that score in a jiffy, needing just 18 ticks of the clock, as Rodney Bronson raced 67 yards for a score with 1:37 remaining in the half.

The Warriors then attempted an onside kick, but Kent scooped up the ball and returned it to the Warriors’ 9-yard line.

From there, Buchert was money-in-the-bank, boring his way through a gaping hole for another touchdown with 1:19 to go in the half to make it 34-14.

“We spread the ball around,” McCarroll said. “We have some weapons, that’s for sure. We started a freshman quarterback in Jayse Lawrence, and he managed the game so well. He did a great job filling in for Brady (O’Donnell), who was injured last week.”

The Indians’ defense produced a pair of second-half picks, including one that resulted in a score when Rarick snared Cresman’s attempt and galloped 67 yards to paydirt to make it 41-14.

Buchert dashed 20-yards for the next Lehighton score before Nelson Stanley found the end zone with 5:12 remaining to close out scoring.

HE SAID IT … “Our backs were outstanding, and our offensive line did a great job.” McCarroll said about his team’s running game.

A BIG BEAR … Lehighton’s Wyatt Sherer (6-1, 215) was a dominating force at times on the defensive side of the ball. Sherer is only a junior.

PICKING IT OFF … The Indians’ defense had three interceptions and a fumble recovery. Rarick had two of the picks, while Lawrence also had one. Kent recovered a fumble.

WHAT A DEBUT… Without a doubt, Lawrence had a great first act. He threw for 195 yards, and spread the ball around to seven different receivers.

SUPER, SUPER, SUPER … What a performance by an A-1 bunch of Lehighton band members. This band can belt it out, and they add fun to the game. Bravo!!

KUDOS … Stats were provided by Wilson’s Duke Helm.